Dagbon Youth Association(DAYA) Adam Baba Issifu addressing the media in Tamale
There’s rising tension brewing between Dagombas and Konkombas over a supposed land in the Northern region.
Addressing a press conference in Tamale, the National President of the Dagbon Youth Association(DAYA), Adam Baba Issifu, stated that a viral video by one Ubor Magal Kuunboln, who calls himself Tema Konkomba-Basari chief, made claims which could create insecurity in Dagbon.
“We must all bear in mind that it was a radio station’s irresponsible broadcast of hate speech akin to what has been portrayed by Ubor Kuuboln that triggered the 1994 Rwandan genocide between the Hutus and Tutsis, leading to the massacre of over 800,000 people.”
“Friends of the media, permit me to quote some of the words of Magal Kuunboln about some lands in Dagbon. He says:
“They should call Dagbamba, their leadership. Let them know that portions I have just mentioned, they should take off that portion out of their constitution. If not Dagbamba is going to face serious resistance from our people. If they don’t let Dagbamba take it off they are going to face a lot of resistance from Konkombas and the Basaris. That one, I can bet you, we were Konkombas, and we were the occupants of those lands.”
The Dagbon Youth Association National President disputed the claim that the said lands belong to the konkombas saying “It is public knowledge that in the 1500s, Naa Zuu Titugri, the 14th King of Dagbon, moved Dagbon’s capital from Yeni Dabari in the West to New Yeni (Vendi) in the East. From this period to the 1890s, about 15 kings also ruled Dagbon from Yendi. It was in 1896 under Naa Andani Girlong that the Germans approached Yendi at Adibo, and a battle popularly referred to as “Adibo Dalila” ensued. Dagbamba warriors gallantly fought the Germans. In the 1900s, the British gained control over eastern Dagon from the Germans and declared the whole area part of their colony.”
He indicated that the onus still lies on Konkomba historians laying claims to lands in Dagbon to prove their ownership of those lands instead of relying on mere conjectures as though the history of Dagbon began with the advent of the Germans and the British.
The Dagbon Youth Association(DAYA), has called for the immediate arrest of Magal Kuunboln and those behind the Nkpakpaando Aabomukl anonymous press release for preparing the grounds for inter-ethnic conflict between the Konkombas and the Dagbamba.
DAYA entreated all Dagbamba to desist from releasing rejoinders to similar messages and if they must do so, they should be mindful to be factual and civil, no matter the provocation.
“We believe that our collective effort as a people should rather be directed at fighting poverty and underdevelopment than fighting one another. Dagbon is poised for accelerated economic and social growth, and no one can stand in our way. All that we do as the youth in Dagbon is to help stakeholders and duty-bearers create a conducive environment to attract investors to our area. We have gone beyond fighting for identity.”
“We have been silent over the years not because Komkomba youth have the monopoly on spewing treacherous comments, but because we think we owe it a duty to safeguard the peace and security in Dagbon and the country at large. therefore, our silence must not be taken to mean weakness. We are proud ragbamba, and we shall forever be Dagbamba.”
The Dagbon Youth Association, however, called for the removal of the defense minister, Dominic Nitiwul with immediate effect for the peace of Dagbon.
“ We believe that the continuous stay of the Defense Minister, Nitiwul, at the Defense Ministry, is the biggest threat to peace in the northern region. The President should therefore reshuffle him since his presence
there is emboldening the Konkombas to create security problems.”
In 1994, the conflict between Dagombas and Konkombas resulted in the killing of about 2,000 people while about 150,000 people were displaced as part of the conflict.
Many have called on security agencies to act with immediate effect to avert any disaster in the Northern region.
By Eric Kombat, Tamale